by the Constitution Party National Committee – Spring 2003 – Portland, Oregon

Whereas, the Constitution vests the power to declare war solely in the Congress, the elected representatives of the people;

Whereas, the framers of the Constitution were explicitly clear in their intent that the authority to unilaterally initiate military hostilities against a foreign power should be denied to the President and the Executive Branch (although this does not exclude the President’s authority to initiate military action when the population and/or territory of the United States is under imminent or proximate attack);

Whereas, the deliberative process and multitude of counsel that is uniquely found in Congress among the federal branches, provides a necessary mechanism of restraint that checks and balances the natural tendencies of the Executive Branch to engage in military conflict;

Whereas, the future of our nation as a free and independent republic is put in grave jeopardy if we continue to allow the Executive Branch to initiate military hostilities against foreign powers without being first directed to do so by a congressional declaration of war;

Whereas, it is the duty of all those holding elected federal office to demand that this constitutional requirement is fulfilled before acts of war are conducted;

Whereas, those who are not willing to actively and publicly support the Constitution are unfit to serve in an elected federal office;

Be it resolved by the Constitution Party National Committee, that we publicly demand that no further expansion of the use of U.S. military force occur without a full and complete debate and consideration of the matter by Congress that results in a positive vote that declares war on a specific foreign enemy or enemies.

Furthermore, we encourage patriotic Americans everywhere to join with us in fulfilling our duty to support the Constitution by opposing the re-election of any and all federal officials that choose to not fulfill their duty to support the Constitution, by their not actively resisting the use of U.S. armed forces by the Executive Branch without a congressional declaration of war.